FORMOSA’S WORST EARTHQUAKE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20090, 23 April 1935, Page 7

FORMOSA’S WORST EARTHQUAKE

THOUSANDS KILLED AND INJURED FIRES ADD TO PEOPLE’S SUFFERINGS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received April 22, 6.30 p.m.) TOKIO, April 21. A message from Taihoku, Formosa, states that many were killed and thousands injured, with great destruction of houses, in an earthquake which occurred at 6 a.m. The epicentre of the earthquake is believed to be 20 miles north-east of Taichu. The heaviest casualties and damage occurred at Taichu, Shinchikou and Shokeelung, all on the west central mountain range, and also at Karenko, on the east coast. Taichu city municipal office reports that three missionaries, who are believed to be British, are safe. The office has not heard of any deaths. Heavy Loss of Life Formosa's worst earthquake occurred at Houtoeing, where it is revealed that in countless cases whole families were killed. Three provinces were severely rocked, several villages in Shinchikou province were levelled, railways and telegraphs have been disrupted indefinitely. Landslides buried the railway tracks, wrecked bridges and caused tunnels to collapse. A defence corps aeroplane, which was forced back by strong winds, reported that fires are causing havoc in the villages and on the farms. Previously Formosa’s most severe earthquake was in 1906, when 1300 were killed. The whole of the main street of Taichu City was demolished, killing 100 persons outright. The town of Taiko was practically destroyed. The police force and members of the Red Cross organisation heroically rescued the injured. Coincident with the Taiwan earthquake, Eastern Japan received a shock at 12.30 which disturbed the English Easter services. Volcano In Eruption The lava eruption from Mount Asama, which started on Saturday, ceased to-day. Smoke and fire belched from the crater in the worst eruption since 1929. Lava set fire to the farm-houses. There have been 20 earthquakes on the mainland since January 1. Most of the earthquake victims are Chinese peasants. Byoritzu, the centre of the petroleum industry, was badly damaged. Hundreds of those who escaped are tramping, in a pitiable plight, to Taichu carrying those who are wounded on improvised stretchers. The Japanese Army Medical Corps and members of the Red Cross Society are operating on the worst cases en route, where they have established centres like during the war time.

GRAVE LOSS OF LIFE TERRIBLE PLIGHT OF STRICKEN PEOPLE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received April 22, 9.50 p.m.) TOKIO, April 22. The Formosa police report that the toll of the earthquake is as follow: Killed, 2471; badly injured, 5267; slightly injured, 395; missing, 3; dwellings demolished, 6671; dwellings half wrecked, 8802; dwellings damaged, 2933; other buildings demolished, 22. Stricken Region Described A report just received from a correspondent on the scene graphically describes a tour early this morning in the stricken region. He travelled with the utmost difficulty owing to wrecked communications and swollen rivers, which are impeding the rescue work. Few fires have occurred, but the casualties are mostly due to the crashing of walls of mud houses. The victims are practically all Formosans and of Chinese origin. The dead were laid out on the roadsides in all directions, many already being in rude wooden coffins. Thousands of injured people are receiving aid at improvised centres, but the correspondent heard screams from hundreds still entrapped in the ruins. Rain began at dawn, intensifying the agonies of the injured and further hindering the efforts of Red Cross workers, army men and local officials. Razed By Giant Hand It was an extraordinary scene. Innumerable flattened mud houses have seemingly been razed by a giant hand, the ruins being interspersed with bodies of the dead, dying and injured lying on mats. The epicentre of the upheaval was in a shallow fault, 60 kilometres from Taihoku. The big cities escaped the serious damage which was suffered by the interior towns and villages in north-west Formosa. Among the incidents of the 'quake, it is stated that a woman gave birth to an infant within the crashing wails of a dwelling. Both were miraculously uninjured, but were imprisoned, the grandmother of the infant shouting for help. Plight of Refugees Everywhere there is an odour of camphor, which is practically the only medicine immediately available, and which is one of Formosa’s chief products. Details so far are dependent on wireless messages from Taihoku. Numerous children and women, who became exhausted through tramping over broken country, were left on the roadside to die. Oil gushers are blazing fiercely,

belching black smoke over miles of the countryside. To add to the horror, fires are spreading. THREE THOUSAND DEAD LATEST REPORTS FROM TOKIO United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph— Copyright (Received April 23, 1.20 a.m.) TOKIO, April 22. The police report that the dead in the earthquake counted total 3003. RECORD AT KELBURN By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, April 22. Exact particulars or any records that the Formosa quake may have made upon the seismic apparatus at the Kelburn Observatory,* could not be furnished when inquiry was made today, but there is quite a good record of a long distance earthquake during the week-end. Also on the records is a recording of a small local ’quake some time about midnight on Saturday.